Tobacco pipe



Sept. 4, 1945. M. G. HILPERT TOBACCO PIPE Filed June 3, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept, 4, 1945. M. e. HILPERT 1,

TOBACCO PIPE Filed June 3, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nventor Sept. 4, 1945. M. G. HILPERT 2,383,968

TOBACCO PIPE Filed June 3, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZSnventor (lttornegs atente Sept. 4, i945 STATES This invention relates to a tobacco pipe, specifically a streamlined, especially balanced, undersl-ung, pocket pipe.

It is aimed to provide a pipe which may be easily maintained in a strictly clean and first class smoking condition and especially one which may be expeditiously cleaned after each smoke or at any time, and the smoke duct oi which will accommodate a finger of the user aided by tissue, gauze or cloth to wipe out such duct, and sump. as well as a baiile and adjacent surfaces of the bowl and bit. A complementary and important feature of said cleaning is that all interior pipe parts are clearly visible throughout, namely, the countersunk bowl ports and very short bit port as well as every surface of the smoke duct. A collateral aim is to provide a construction all parts of which, exclusive only of the shankless bowl, may be boiled at any time and thus made surgically clean and to every purpose a new pipe.

A further object is to provide a, pipe in which all tar, creosotes and resins will be positively precipitated and deposited in a sump, as well as the bulk of deleterious substances and oils inherent in tobacco smoke. so that the smoker will enjoy uncontaminated tobacco smoke and will be able to appreciate the aroma and flavor and other desirable eilects according to the tobacco selected.

It is also an object to provide a pipe wherein practically all water vapor from the smoke will be condensed, and wherein the construction allows the smoker to definitely control according to his individual taste and the tobacco he uses the tightness" or looseness" of the pull" and also the bit or mouth temperature of delivered smoke.

Furthermore I aim to provide such a construc-.

tion wherein the smoke is promptly debouched from the bowl through a bowl wall having countersunk ports directly into a large chamber to prevent condensations in the unburned tobacco and resulting wet or soggy heel in the bowl, thus maintaining a bowl dry and allowing the satisfactory smoking or 20% of tobacco now wasted in wet heels; to eliminate the usual pipe shanks and long stems and bits; to avoid the return saliva into the smoker's mouth; to greatly decrease the smoke temperature and the speed of the smoke flow in order to eflect iull precipitation and condensation and ensure a clean and cool smoke free of tobacco dust or other particles: to provide for the admixture or smoker controlled amounts of free air into the condensing chamber to provide a construction which will dofiect all deleterious and undesirable substances into a wet sump to be retained therein by the liquid, 9. construction which is self-supporting on a table in upright position with bit in clear of all contaminations, a construction especially well balanced when in smoker's mouth and which may be made in compact form to be carried in the pocket, and in particular a constriiction wherein bowls of any desired woods or other materials may be instantly interchanged, and a. construction which satisfactorily blends the desirable odor of charred wood with the delightful aroma of nicotianin, or tobacco camphor, that much sought after desideratum of all pipe smoking.

Various additional objects and advantages will in part be pointed out hereinafter and otherwise become apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the pi Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the smoke duct, bit, and bail, the ole thereof by a finger of the smoker being shown;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bowl from the rear, the manual closing of free air duct being shown:

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the pipe;

Fig. 5. is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the rear wall of bowl showing a modified form of port showing one type of free air valve showinga modified form of the groove is;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the bowl;

Fig. 7 is a rear end view 01 said bowl showing a modified form of the plug 28;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a'modified form of the pipe and showing a second type of spring bail;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the pipe of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the pipe of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the bail connection to one side of the smoke duct;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the parts of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detail horizontal section through the smoke duct and showing an alternate bail connection to the same side of the duct as that of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section across the bowl of Fig. 8, and showing a third type of spring bail;

'Figs. 15 and 16 are front elevations and edge views, respectively, of one form of baflle;

Fig. 1? is a cross section through the duct taken on the line IT, ll, Fig. it;

Fig. 18 is a cross sectional view taken on the line l8, l8 of Fig.10;

Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view taken through the bit on the line i9, IQ of Fig.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary side elevation of a fourth type of pipe bail;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through. the bowl of the pipe of Fig. 8, showing a fifth type of pipe bail;

Fig; 22 is a side elevation of the bail employed in the form of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary side elevation of still another form of pipe bowl and smoke duct lune tion;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of a further form of pipe and a sixth type of bail;

Fig. 25 is a side elevation of the pipe of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a front elevation of the bowl of the form of pipe shown in Figure 24;

Fig. 27 is a. detail elevation of one of the bail fasteners used in the pipe of Fig. 24;

Fig. 28 is a detail longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the duct and said fastening; Fig. 29 is a detail section showing an alternate fastening of one end of the bail to the-duct;

Fig. 30 is an enlarged detailed view of the bowl showing the keeper;

Fig. 31 is an elevation of the form of bailie used in-the pipe of Fig. 24, the sections thereof being disaligned and to facilitate cleaning;

Fig. 32 is an inverted plan view of the bowl and adjacent parts of the pipe of Fig. 24; v

Fig. 33 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33, 33 of Fig. 25;

Fig. 34 is a cross section taken on the line 34, 3| of Fi 25;

Fig. 35 is a side elevation of a seventh type of bail;

Fig. 36 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of the bowl of the pipe of Fig. 24, taken on line 36-46, Figure 32, and

Fig. 37 is a perspective view of a further modifled form. I

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designates like or similar parts throughout the different views, and first to the form disclosed in Figs. 1 to '7, the pipe may comprise generally a bowl A and a smoke duct B separable therefrom, and the smoke duct B has rigidly or detachably fastened thereto as preferred, a bit or short mouth piece 0. Said bowl A may be of any approved shape externally or of any size within limits, and made of any desired material, preferably of wood. Such bowl has a conventional well ill and its rear wall I I is preferably flat. said wall H having any desired number of draft holes or passages l2 therethrough.

The smoke duct B, may be madeof any'desired material, for example sheet aluminum, or very thin alloy steel so as to be relatively light in weight. The upper wall of such duct B is shown as substantially in the plane of the upper edge of the bowl A. The forward edge of the duct intimately fits the bowl A, airtight, as in a dc.- pression I! provided in the wall ll. Such duct B adjacent the bowl A is of substantially the same depth as the bowl so as to have a bottom portion M, disposed to rest on a table or other support and enable the pipe to be self-supporting in upright or tabled position. A small reentrant dent IS in said bottom portion affords better than a point bearing to the bottom llof the bowl. As shown, the bottom wall of the duct l3 both interiorly and exterioriy is curved to provide a well or sump .18 in said bottom portion H within the duct adjacent the bowl A, and the interior surface of such bottom wall is curved upward and rcarwardly as at I! from the wall of the sump l8, whereby all liquid matter will drain into the sump i5.

Said bowl and duct B are shown as separably clamped together by any suitable means as for instance by a wire bail of U--shape with. a flattened spring coil as its center forward portion as shown at It, adapted to surround the bowl A and which has right angle bends extending through matching holes 20 in duct B and flat terminal heads l9 internally of duct 13 walls, the flattened coil affording the resilience required, a finger grip for operating the bail, and

a locking means when seated in a matching groove or notch IS in bowl A.

The bit or mouth piece C is relatively short and it has the usual passage or duct 2| therein communicating with the interior of duct B and such bit may be fastened to the duct B by a drive fit or by clinching or otherwise as at 22.

It is a feature of the pipe that the bit does not need to be removed for cleaning, and therefore is fastening to the duct or pipe stem may be rigid.

A baille 23 is removably disposed within the space of maximum area of the duct 3 in order to deflect or precipitate solid matter into sump I6. Said baffle 23 may be a thin metallic plate with perforations therethrough at any desired locations but preferably being of the form detailed in Figs. 15 and 16 and having elongated notches 24 marginally thereof which facilitate draft from the bowl, through passages l2, duct B and bit C to the mouth of the smoker.

Diluting and cooling free air may be admitted to the interior of the duct B, as through transverse passage 25, and communicating rearward port 26' through the bowl A, and exact control accomplished by the regulation or setting of the plug 28 preferably of cork. It will be clear that in lighting the pipe or at any time when the external air is not desired, the passage 25 may be closed by the thumb of the smoker applied at either end of same according as the cork plug is initially inserted for right or left handedness.

Attention is called to the fact that in smoking, all vapors condense and the smoke is purified within the duct B between the baffle 23 and the wall H, such defined space constituting a condensing and smoke conditioning chamber. The remaining portion of the interior of the smoke duct, namely that between the baffle 23 and bit C, constitutes a smoke mixing and cooling chamber.

When the bowl and duct are separably connected for expeditious detachment and attachment by the bail l8 and associated parts. the pipe may be readily cleaned. The construction is such that pipe cleaners, spoons and gadgets or the like for cleaning and digging out of the stem are unnecessary because the forward end of the smoke ductis open to visual inspection and manual access, the duct being of a. size to readily accommodate the index or other finger of the smoker. even when covered by and manipulating a tissue, gauze or cleaning cloth, to wipe out the entire interior tar repellent surface of said duct. This feature is well shown in Fig. 2. In addition, the wiping and cleaning of the inner end of the bit C, is shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 4, is facilitated becauseit is concave as at 21 and arranged to merge into the inner wall of the duct.

Since the forward opening of the smoke duct is substantially of the area of the rear wall of the bowl, it is obvious that multiple smoke. draft holes may be placed through wall I I as shown at the extreme bottom of bowl well III as at l2 and also at other well depths as at 29 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Thus draft will be freer for the consumption of the upper layers of tobacco. Free air may enter duct B from well ill, through draft hole 29 after the consumption of the tobacco layers above said hole 29. To control said entrance of free air I may employ the passage 25 and plug 28 which latter may project as at 30 or may be moved by insertion of an object, as a match stick 65, as shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 19, a bowl A, a duct B and a bit C correspond to and function like the parts A, B and C respectively, although diflering somewhat in size and shape. It will be noted that the bowl is round sectionally and oval vertically in this form, is recessed at 3|, and that the-adjacent end of the duct B is curved to intimately fit the same airtight, the forward edge of the duct at this end preferably being chamfered at 32 as best shown in Figs. 11 and 12. This form of the invention uses the removable bailie 23 as in.

the previous form. The bowl A and duct B are shown as detachably connected together by a U-shaped metallic wire bail or the equivalent, at 33, which removably surrounds the bowl A and has a terminal eyelet 34 pivoted to a lug or hook 35 mounted on the exterior vertical walls of the duct B. An alternate fastening for ball 33 has hooks 36 which engage openings, or eyelets 31 on either side of the duct B, the latter enabling pivotal movement of the bail to engage and disengage the bowl. This form of the invention employs two passages l2.

Said first alternate bail 33 intermediate its ends may have sinuous and flat spring coils 33 to enhance the resilient action and to serve as finger grips. The bowl A may have a groove 33 with which the bail interfits. Figure 14 shows a 3rd alternate bail with coil spring ends similar to 38 above.

In the form of Figs. 20, 21 and 22, bowl A" and duct B" correspond to the bowl and ductA' and B respectively, and all other parts except as now described are similar to the form of Fig. 8. The bail in this fourth alternate form is shown at 33' as fixed to opposite sides of the duct B" and it is a metallic spring wire of U-shape normally straight but bendable to the curvature shown in dotted lines in Fig. 20, but which will snap to engagement with a groove 39' of the bowl A". The fourth alternate ball 33' at 40 is preferably formed with single end loops to facilitate manipulation of the bail by the fingers. In addition this form of Fig. 20 has an auxiliary air inlet valve structure somewhat similar to a stove slide draft damper, being shown at 4!, and located in a side wall of the duct B", it being clear that the finger may be placed over the entire valve or damper 4| when lighting the pipe. Fig. 23 shows a modified form of detachable connection between any of the bowls and ducts described. The bowl here is designated A and the duct is designated B. The bowl at the rear wall through which smoke passages 60, equivalent to those at i2 for example, are provided, has an extension 6| with which the somewhat differently but corresponding to those at A, B and C respectively, or at A. B' and C respectively. The rear wall of the bowl A is flat and engaged airtight and detachably by the chamfered or feather edge 4| of the duct 1B as shown in Figs. 28 and 29, the wall of the bowl preferably having a continuous groove 42 to receive it. The ball in this form is a U-shaped metallic wire 43 which removably surrounds the bowl A and engages depressions 44 in metallic keepers 45 fastened to the bowl. The ends of the ball as at 43 may be non-removably pivoted to a wall of the duct B or its ends may terminate in lugs 41 which detachably enter slots 43 of mounting disks 49 fastened to the opposite side of such duct B. The ball 43 may be folded sinuously as at 50 to increase its resilience, or it may be coiled helix-wise as at II to facilitate manual manipulation to engage and disengage the slots 48.

Communication between the interior of the duct 13 and the bowl is established by a pair of passages in the rear wall of the bowl as at l2" while free air may be admitted into the interior of the duct B through a diagonal passage 52 provided in the bowl A, the entrance of said free air being at the bottom of the bowl and said free air is regulatable through manipulation of a screw plug or valve 54, screw-threaded and intersecting the passage 52, it being clear that when maximum smoke draft is desired a finger of the user may be placed over the outer terminal of passage at 53 to close it.

The baille in this form which provides the condensing and smoke conditioning chamber on one side thereof and the mixing and cooling chamber on the other side thereof is shown at 55. This baiiie is removable, like in the preceding form, and its lower end is disposed in the sump ll equivalent to that at l6, and it occupies an inclined position as in Fig. 25 and is too large to tilt away from the engaged wall of the bowl. This baifle preferably consists of two plates I! which are hinged together at 53 to enabieseparation thereof for removal of any collected matter or for cleaning. The edges of the plates 51 are preferably notched as at 53, so as to function like the notches 24 and provide a sinuous smoke flow forwardly. The different positions which the bail 43 may assume when disengaged from or while disengaging the bowl A is fragmentarily suggested in Fig. 25.

In the form of Fig. 3'7, a detachable bowl A and duct l3 are employed, the latter having a bit C Said parts generally function, and are interiorally constructed similarly to the forms of Figs. 1, 10 or 23. The use of a fastening bail is dispensed with. Bowl A and duct 3* are connected substantially like the bowl and duct in Fig. 23 in that the bowl has an extension 4| detachably friction fitted at 32 by the duct B. The sump of the latter duct is designated II and employs a baffle as at 23'.

What I claim is:

1. A pocket tobacco pipe comprising, in combination: a bowl; a stem comprising a smoke duct in communication with said bowl and external thereto; said stem being detachable from said bowl at an opening into said duct; a bit carried by said stem; the internal dimensions of said opening and duct being such as to provide for access of a smoker's finger to all points upon the inner surface of said duct.

2. The structure of claim 1 with a baiiie supported from the walls of the smoke duct, with means spacing a considerable portion of its margin from the internal walls of the duct.

3. A pocket smoking pipe comprising, in combination: a bowl; a stem having an opening, the edge thereof removably connected to said bowl with the bowl exterior to the stem, the interior of said stem consisting of a smoke duct into which a draft hole in the bowl opens, said opening and interior having cross-sectional dimensions to receive an adult finger; a bit carried by said stem having a straight passage therethrough; the upper wall of said stem being substantially parallel with the axis of the bit passage to a point closely adjacent the bowl receiving opening; the lower wall of the stem diverging downwardly to a point adjacent said opening then sloping upwardly thereto to provide a sump and the side walls of the stem diverging from the bit to the bowl-receiving opening.

4. A pocket tobacco pipe comprising, in combination: a bowl; a stem comprising a smoke duct in communication with said bowl; a bit carried by said stem and opening into said smoke duct; the upper surface of said smoke duct and the passage through said bit being substantially straight and in closely adjacent parallel planes normally horizontal in use of the pipe; the bit end surface of said duct being materially larger than the bit and under cut relative to the passage of the bit; the lower inner surface of the smoke duct sloping downwardly from said end surface then upwardly toward the bowl in an ogee curve to provide a sump; whereby moisture from the mouth of a user through the bit will flow backwardly on said under-cut surface then to the sump.

5. A pocket tobacco pipe comprising, in combination: a smoke duct formed of thin material and approximating the frustrum of a cone in shape; a bowl, the rear face thereof substantially equalling in area the base of said irustrum; means providing a detachable frictional fit connection between said bowl and large end of said duct with the bowl exterior to the duct; the length of said duct approximating the length of a smoker's index finger and the interior of the small end of the duct atleast slightly larger than the tip of said finger; and a pipe bit carried by the small end of the duct. 7

6. The combination of claim with the duct formed of heat dispersive material.

7. A pocket tobacco pipe comprising, in combination: a smoke duct of internal cross section to receive an index finger of the smoker and slightly less than normal finger length, formed with a bowl contacting, finger receiving opening substantially equal to its greatest internal.

cross section; a bowl removably secured to said duct at said opening and exterior of said duct; the plane of said opening being-substantially nor mal to the axis of said duct; whereby said duct when disconnected from said bowl may be cleaned by insertion of an index finger of the user.

8. A pocket smoking pipe comprising, in combination: a stem having internal dimensions which in length and cross section permit insertion of a finger of a user to contact all portions thereof when moved therein; said stem having a bowl receiving opening substantially normal to the axis of said stem and not materially less in cross section than that of the interior of the stem: a bowl exterior to and having a draft hole opening into said stem and formed with a lateral portion shaped and dimensioned to provide a frictional connection with said opening; and a bit connected to the stem at its and opposite said opening.

9. A pocket tobacco pipe comprising, in combination: a bowl, a stem comprising a smoke duct in communication with said bowl; said stem detachable from said bowl at an opening into said duct; a bit carried by said stem and opening into said duct; the length of the smoke duct being not greater than a smokers index finger, and the cross-sectional areas and form of said duct being such as to provide for access of an adult human finger to all points upon the inner surface of said duct; said bowl being substantially external to said stem.

10. A pocket tobacco pipe comprising, in combination: a bowl, a stem detachably connected with said bowl comprising a smoke duct in communication with .a hole in said bowl; a bit carried by said stem and opening into said duct; said duct first gradually increasing in depth backwardly from its bowl end and then gradually diminishing in depth to its bit and; and the crosssectional area and form of said duct being such as to provide for access of a smokers finger to all points upon the inner surface of said duct, said bowl being substantially external to said stem.

11. A pocket tobacco pipe comprising, in combination: a shankless bowl; a stem detachably connected with said bowl comprising a smoke duct in communication with a hole in said bowl; a bit carried by said stem and opening into said duct; said duct gradually diminishing in crosssectional area throughout the greater part of its 

